Slanted trivia a local senior's club

debodun

debodun

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Location
way upstate in New York, USA
When I heard that the craft part of the local senior's club would no longer be offered, I had high hopes for something more interesting and challenging than making construction paper decoupages. What was offered in lieu if the crafts was a trivia quiz about the friends and family of the person that puts on the senior's activities. I though this was incredibly biased since only people that are acquainted with these people would know the answers (e.g. "What was my friend's nickname in high school?" and "What is the date of my parent's wedding anniversary?"). I think more general knowledge questions should be used. Thoughts?
 

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It's my perception that this "seniors" club is slowing becoming a private club for the director and her friends and family.

At the last meeting we also played BINGO. I won the second game. When I called "BINGO", she totally ignored me. I had to shout three times, then she grudgingly recognized me. But when one of her relatives or friends gets BINGO, she's rushing over with a prize for them.

Now I'm beginning to see why my aunt stopped coming last year.
 
I am looking to join a senior center in my area. I am almost leary to do so, but that is out weighed by my need to get out of the house more.
 
That`s why would never join a seniors club...too many old people (mentally) think younger:playful:
 
Here, we have Senior Clubs known as Senior Academy and we can participate in various activities of individual choices - I took up a poetry course, computer classes and table tennis (as a substitution for ground tennis, which I could never play because of joint problems) and I'm quite happy doing it.
 
debodun said:
When I heard that the craft part of the local senior's club would no longer be offered, I had high hopes for something more interesting and challenging than making construction paper decoupages. What was offered in lieu if the crafts was a trivia quiz about the friends and family of the person that puts on the senior's activities. I though this was incredibly biased since only people that are acquainted with these people would know the answers (e.g. "What was my friend's nickname in high school?" and "What is the date of my parent's wedding anniversary?"). I think more general knowledge questions should be used. Thoughts?
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Is the club funded by tax dollars? Most senior citizen centers receive tax assistance, either from federal, state, or local sources. Find who funds the organization and go visit with them. Tax dollars are not designed to facilitate a "family picnic". Tax dollars should benefit the community at large. Find out how many seniors may have dropped out of the program due to the "inbred" component of the group. Get your facts, first, so it doesn't appear your complaint is just "sour grapes". With facts in hand, seek out who funds the group and appeal to them to make a change in the group leadership.
 
Grumpy Ol' Man said:
Is the club funded by tax dollars?
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When it is advertised, they stipulate it is "supported" by the town.

Grumpy Ol' Man said:
Find out how many seniors may have dropped out of the program due to the "inbred" component of the group.
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That would be difficult since I don't have a record of who attended and doesn't anymore. I only know of my aunt, but there are some I haven't seen in a while. I asked my aunt and she is very tight-lipped about why she stopped attending. If I can't get my aunt to admit anything, I'm sure others would also be reticent. Some may have stopped coming because of other problems.

When I tell people I know about my feelings, they all say "Well, if you don't like it, don't go." To me this is just sticking your had in the sand and letting the people in charge get away with it. The person in charge is also on the village board, so she probably has some clout with the mayor and other local officials.
 
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You are not going to change anything about this group. Quit going to their gatherings. Maybe it will change in a couple of years. Go back and try it then.
 
That kind of a "trivia" game might be a good idea for a family gathering, say after Thanksgiving dinner or something like that. Or maybe among old friends who would be expected to know all about each other.
 
Seniors clubs of that sort would be of no interest to me but then I've always been uninterested in clubs. Bit of a loner. That children's book 'I Can Do It Myself' best describes me. Even all the museums that I've ever gone to as an adult, only once have we ever gone with a tour guide.
 
I basically go for the fun & games, then lunch. When they used start with the crafts after lunch, I would leave since I already have too much "junk" in my house. It just rankled me for some reason that she would substitute a trivia quiz slanted for her family and friends in place of the craft time.

Maybe my aunt won't tell me why she quit going, but maybe she feels it will "get back" to the program director.
 
Another thing that's been bugging me about the seniors is that it's supposed to be for people "age 55 and older". Lately there's been an influx of "tweens" and their "thiry-ish" moms showing up. The senior's meet the last Friday of the month and that's when the local school always has "Superintendent's Day" when kids don't have to go to school, or when the kids have mid-winter or spring break (the last weeks of February and April) and also Christmas and Thanksgiving break. Maybe they are being invited by some of the other seniors, but I feel if it's for older people, that these younger folks shouldn't be admitted. I was never a parent or grandparent so having kids anywhere from 3 to 16 years old makes me nervous for some reason - maybe its because they are so energetic. I just wonder if they like being brought to a place where a lot of old people hang out?
 

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